Attack Victim: “I Didn’t Think I’d Get Out Alive”

On Wednesday, October 7, a terrorist attacked a soldier in the city of Kiryat Gat, stealing his service rifle, stabbing and lightly wounding him. After snatching the rifle, the terrorist then made his way into a nearby apartment building.

Liat had been returning home from a shopping trip when she was accosted outside her third-floor apartment by this terrorist. He kicked her and entered her apartment building. "I thought this was going to be the end of me," Liat says. "I managed to get into my house, and I tried to close the door, but he opened it with his gun and grabbed me."

"The terrorist told me to be quiet," says Liat. "He grabbed me and started choking me. But I fought him and was able to get free from his hold."

Then the terrorist realized that the gun didn’t have any bullets. "The terrorist then went into the kitchen and started rummaging through the silverware drawer in order to find a knife," Liat recounts. "He tried to stab me.

“I shouted to my mother to run out of our apartment. He fought with me and I fought back so he couldn't stab me. My mother and I managed to flee. The terrorist then ran into the kitchen."

Despite all the commotion and danger, Liat remained calm. She went running from door to door, warning her neighbors to lock their doors. She and her mother then took the elevator to the top floor, where they finally went into a neighbor's apartment, where they stayed until security forces came and neutralized the attacker.

"We heard shots while we were in my neighbor's apartment," says Liat. "I was afraid the terrorist was massacring other neighbors. In retrospect, it was the security forces neutralizing him."

Fellowship staff member Avi Stern delivered a check for $1,000 to Liat to help with her medical expenses and with clean-up after the attack.

Liat says, "Thank you so much for this very generous donation. It will be put to good use. There's still evidence of the struggle that took place in my apartment. There are bullet marks on the walls and ceiling. I didn't think I'd get out alive. It's going to take a while to get over this."